SAD releases another list of 24 party candidates

Chandigarh, Jan 6: Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Kuldip Singh Wadala, who returned to the SAD fold last year, will be the party candidate from his old constituency, Nakodar in Jalandhar district.

Mr Wadala, often described as the 'old Akali warhorse' of the Doaba belt had parted company with SAD chief Prakash Singh Badal prior to the 1997 assembly polls and had formed his independent Akali faction.

Mr Wadala's name figures in the second list of 24 candidates released by the SAD here today. The party had earlier released a list of 62 candidates and theferafter SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal had announced the candidature of Prem Singh Chandumajra from Lehra Gagga and Baldev Singh Mann from Dirba. Both Mr Chandumajra and Mr Mann had joined the SAD after dissolving the SAD (Longowal) The SAD has left 23 of the 117 seats to its ally the BJP. The Vidhan Sabha polls are scheduled for February 13.

There are 13 new faces and 10 young leaders in the list released today. Two more Hindu candidates find place in the list.

Another prominent name in the second list is the party's General Secretary and former minister Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal from Payal, the assembly constituency of former chief minister and Congress leader, the late Beant Singh. A former IAS officer Amarjit Singh Sidhu will be the party candidate from Talwandi Sabo. Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, a former MLA and son of late Akali leader Mr Basant Singh Khalsa has been nominated from Khanna, the seat being held by Mrs Harbans Kaur Dullo, wife of Punjab Congress chief Shamsher Singh Dullon.

Mr Raminder Singh Bularia, a former deputy mayor of Amritsar Municipal Corporation will be the candidate from Amritsar (South), Virsa Singh Valtoha from Vatoha, Sarup Singla from Bathinda and Darshan Singh Kot Fattah from Pacca Kalan (reserve).

Didar Singh Bhatti will contest from Sirhind, Avinash Chander from Kartarpur, Gurdeep Singh Bhullar from Nur Mahal, Bhag Singh Mallah from Jagraon, Darshan Singh Shivalik from Dakha, Jarnail Singh of village Rama from Nihal Singh Wala and Sukh Darshan Singh Mrar would contest from Mukatsar assembly constituency.

Mr Mrar had won the last assembly polls from Mukatsar as an independent. He joined the Congress in November last year, but a few days back he left the ruling party to join the SAD.

The SAD has nominated Jatinder Singh Kariha from Nawanshahar, Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur from Ghanour, Hameer Singh Ghagga from Shatrana, Jasjit Singh from Kharar, Parkash Chand Garg from Sangrur, Manjit Singh Mianwind from Khadoor Sahib, Harmeet Singh Sandhu from Tarn Taran, Malkit Singh AR from Jandiala (reserve) and former Minister Raghbir Singh from Kapurthala.

Mr Sandhu, who is considered close to Mr Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon, the son-in-law of Mr Badal had won the Tarn Taran seat as a rebel SAD in the last elections. Mr Kairon is the party nominee from the adjoining Patti segment.

Mr Jasjit Singh who has been nominated from Kharar, is the son of Capt Kanwaljit Singh, a former minister and senior Akali leader who is the party candidate from the adjoining Banur constituency.

UNI